75 | STEVENS STUDENT HANDBOOK Other Physical Effects Each year, alcohol is involved in more than half of the auto accidents in the U.S. Even a B.A.L. of 0.03% can impair a person’s ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Any amount of alcoholic consumed while pregnant may cause severe damage to the developing fetus. Heavy, prolonged or excessive drinking can lead to malnutrition, cancer, psychological problems, miscarriages and infertility in females, impotency and sterility in males. Liver — 95% of all alcohol is metabolized by the liver. Because clearing alcohol out of the body is a “priority,” the other functions of the liver, such as regulating blood glucose levels, are slowed. Stomach — Alcohol causes a surge in the flow of digestive acids that can irritate the stomach lining. Nausea and vomiting frequently occur, while regular heavy drinking causes ulcers and chronic stomach problems. Heart — Alcohol makes the heart work harder and less efficiently. Long-term heavy drinking is associated with heart muscle disease, irregular heartbeats and an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Controlled Substances Marijuana — Marijuana is a drug taken to produce a euphoric feeling and a state of relaxation. The short- term effects of marijuana include distortion of time perception, increased heart rates, dilation of the blood vessels and loss of short-term memory. Visual perception and psychomotor skills are also decreased, which has adverse effects on driving ability. The effects of long-term use include loss of motivation, chronic bronchitis, decreased lung capacity and an increased risk of lung cancer. In men, marijuana use has caused lower levels of the sex hormone testosterone and an increase in abnormal sperm. Cocaine — Cocaine is a powerful stimulant. The drug’s immediate effect is to create a feeling that is often described as euphoric. It creates increased alertness, suppresses appetite and temporarily relieves depression. Studies indicate that cocaine’s effects on the body and psyche are dangerous, and that some damage may be irreversible. The least harmful effects are nosebleeds and nasal erosions that result from irritation of the lining of the nose when the drug is inhaled. Most dangerous are the “coke blues,” which are the intense downs that occur, often after a high, and result in the user trying other drugs to relieve the physical and emotional discomfort. There is a strong psychological dependence to cocaine that slowly accumulates as tolerance to the drug builds. Long-term use of cocaine can cause paranoia, sexual dysfunction and deep depression. Ecstasy or MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) — Ecstasy is a stimulant that combines the properties of methamphetamine or “speed” with mind-altering or hallucinogenic properties. It has been billed as the “perfect drug” by users because it can induce enhanced thinking, coordination and empathy. Because of many different recipes used to manufacture Ecstasy, deaths have been caused by substances added during production of the drug. Users are at particular risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration with physical exertion. Long-term use has been shown to cause brain damage. Special K (ketamine hydrochloride) — Ketamine hydrochloride is primarily used in veterinary medicine. Human users experience hallucinations and can experience a loss of time and identity. Ketamine can cause delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, depression, recurrent flashbacks and potentially fatal respiratory problems. LSD — LSD is a potent hallucinogen derived from a fungus that grows on rye and other grains; the effects of LSD are unpredictable. A “bad trip” can be terrifying, including frightening thoughts and feelings, fear of losing control, fear of insanity, and death. Chronic users may experience flashbacks and visual hallucinations long after use of the drug has stopped.
